Total Points: Over 50.5
Moneyline: Minnesota to Win
Anytime TD: Justin Jefferson
Anytime TD: Jalen Hurts
*A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 11/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Monday Night 1.31am: Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles
TV: Channel 5
Monday Night Football features a Philadelphia Eagles team led by Jalen Hurts taking on Kirk Cousins’ Minnesota Vikings with both teams buoyed by impressive Week 1 displays.
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The Eagles romped ahead of Hard Knocks darlings the Detroit Lions before allowing them to put lipstick on the pig in garbage time, while the Vikings had huge victory over divisional rivals Green Bay.
What’ll happen when these two NFC challengers under the bright lights of Monday night?
Total Points: Over 50.5
Both of these offences showed their potential in Week 1.
The Eagles have given quarterback Jalen Hurts a huge gift by trading for AJ Brown and he was like a kid on Christmas morning against Detroit, the former Titans receiver making 10 catches for 155 yards as they clocked up 38 points in the Motor City.
Hurts also showed his wheels, running for 90 yards and scoring once in a display that should scare NFL defences if it’s a sign of his play to come.
For the Vikings, third-year receiver Justin Jefferson continued to prompt Minnesotan memories to drift back to Randy Moss with his explosive performance of nine receptions, 184 yards and two scores as they downed the Packers 23-7.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 32 passes for 277 with no interceptions too, There are still questions about his ability to reproduce such performances under the glare of prime-time cameras, but he has improved in recent years in such spots and it should mean that new coach Kevin O’Connell can rely on him this week to execute his gameplan on Monday.
It all points to a high-scoring game and over on the Total is a solid start.
Moneyline: Minnesota to Win
The Eagles defence did allow the Lions to clamber back into that game last week, albeit they never looked in serious danger. There are also questions about Hurts’ passing accuracy for all the threat he provides on the ground.
For Minnesota, you would wonder how much they were tested by a Green Bay team stripped of Davante Adams and breaking in a cohort of new targets for Aaron Rodgers.
However, they did take advantage of that opportunity and that makes them a tempting proposition as road underdogs here as Green Bay are no easy marks.
You could take them getting 1.5 points on the handicap, but I’d rather look at them to win on the Moneyline at an above evens price.
Anytime Touchdown: Justin Jefferson
He’s been a sensation since he came into the league, posting 1400 and 1600-yard seasons back-to-back and catching 17 touchdowns before last week’s pair.
The really exciting thing now though is he has a head coach who will make the most of his skill set.
Coach O’Connell, schooled in Sean McVay’s Super Bowl-winning offence, moved pieces around before the snap in week 1, creating confusion in the Pack’s defence and giving his star receiver acres of space against what was reported to be the best Green Bay defence in years.
If Minnesota win, Jefferson will be at the heart of it.
Anytime Touchdown: Jalen Hurts
Hurts could establish himself in the coming weeks as the leading dual-threat quarterback in the league, which would be an impressive feat considering Lamar Jackson’s a former MVP and Kyler Murray can make plays out of nothing in Arizona.
Doubts persist about his passing though, and he has no excuse this season in that department given the weapons at his disposal – Brown, second-year receiver Devonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert in particular look a fearsome tiumverate.
What’s not in doubt is his ability to break out of the pocket for big gains on the ground. If Philadelphia make it to the redzone, he’s a threat both with his feet and his arm.
I’d back the former over the latter, so he’s worth backing to run in a score on Monday night,
Vikings @ Eagles tips
Total Points: Over 50.5
Moneyline: Minnesota to Win
Anytime TD: Justin Jefferson
Anytime TD: Jalen Hurts
*A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 11/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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